Angie Miller's parents, of Beverly, speak of the rising star before 'Idol' and now

Thursday

Apr 18, 2013 at 12:01 AMApr 18, 2013 at 6:01 PM

At first glance, a North Beverly home on Essex Street may appear like any other in the area. That is, until one takes a closer look. Signs cheering on the success of hometown “American Idol” contestant Angie Miller are displayed on the lawn and in the front windows. That’s because this home belongs to the star vocalist’s first fans, her family.

Nick Malfitano / nmalfitano@wickedlocal.com

At first glance, a North Beverly home on Essex Street may appear like any other in the area. That is, until one takes a closer look. Signs cheering on the success of hometown “American Idol” contestant Angie Miller are displayed on the lawn and in the front windows. That’s because this home belongs to the star vocalist’s first fans, her family.

Angie, a 2012 graduate of Beverly High School, has excelled on the FOX hit reality competition show, singing her way into the Top 5 last week with glowing reviews from the celebrity judges.

Angie’s father, Rev. Guy Miller, her mother, Rev. Tana Miller, and brother, Jonathan Miller have been there for it all, watching through the years as Angie has gone from talented student performer to worldwide phenomenon.

“We’re a musical family,” said Tana. “My husband plays the keyboard, I play the guitar, and our son Jonathan plays everything. [Angie] would come with us to rehearsals, bringing her Barbies and playing on the pews.”

Tana said Angie originally began playing the guitar, but later switched over to the piano when taking lessons from an instructor on Cape Cod, where the Millers lived for eight years, when Guy and Tana served as pastors for a church there.

“Even before that, Angie always had lead roles and solos in children’s theater,” said Tana. “She couldn’t wait to get on a stage, she wasn’t the least bit fearful.”

Tana said that later on, Angie participated in several musicals at Beverly High School, including “The Will Rogers Follies,” “My Fair Lady” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” Additionally, Angie had roles in productions associated with local churches, where she played Young Belle in a production of “Scrooge” put on by the Calvary Christian Church in Lynnfield.

Another key moment in the development of Angie’s vocal talents came during the Fine Arts Festival in Phoenix, Ariz. in 2011. The Fine Arts Festival is an annual national event put on by the Assemblies of God and designed to provide an outlet for students to display their ministry gifts.

“There were 1,500 people in our district, and thousands of people at the 1

WANT MORE ANGIE?

Tune in to “American Idol” Wednesday and Thursday night, 8 p.m., on Fox Network. Don’t forget to check the Citizen’s special Wicked Local site at wickedlocal.com/beverly/angieidol for all the latest updates, performance videos and judges comments, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

You can also follow Angie herself on Twitter at twitter.com/AngieAI12 and send her fan mail at 7800 Beverly Boulevard, Suite 251, Los Angeles, CA 90036.

festival,” said Tana. “There are different categories, and one of the largest is ‘Female Vocal Solo,’ which had over 1,000 girls in it.”

Tana said that Angie ended up placing very high in the competition at the time, out of all the contestants entered nationwide.

“She was No. 7 in all of America and made their Top 10 list,” said Tana.

Becoming a star

Last spring, when Angie had just graduated Beverly High School, Tana explained that Angie was offered three different vocal scholarships. “We checked out those colleges,” Tana said “One day, she came to me and said, ‘Mom, I really feel like I want to try out for ‘American Idol.’”

Tana stated that she knew Angie would be a good influence for young girls, and that her combination of character, beauty and talent represented the complete package of a star.

“I knew this was her dream, and I truly did think she would make the Top 10,” Tana stated. “I told her to think and pray on it.”

As far as Angie’s success earned throughout the competition thus far, Tana said that she and the rest of the Angie’s family are thrilled.

“We couldn’t possibly be happier for her,” said Tana.

That feeling is shared throughout the Beverly community, as many have actively shown their support for the singing star in numerous ways. Beverly Main Streets distributed signs encouraging the public to vote for Angie on “American Idol,” Todd’s Sporting Goods produced and sold “Team Angie” T-shirts with proceeds benefiting the music department at Beverly High School, and the Happy Clam Seafood Café has created a “Set Me Free” sandwich in Angie’s honor — referencing an original song of hers titled, “You Set Me Free,” which the singer performed on an “American Idol” broadcast in February. The YouTube video of that performance has reached well over 3 million views online.

“It’s the coolest thing that it means so much to people. If she came home and saw all this, she would say, ‘Whoa.’ I don’t think it’s really hit her,” Tana said of the impact of Angie’s success on Beverly.

Tana added that she has a few moments every day where she cries, but specified they were happy tears.

“I’m extremely happy that her dreams are coming true,” said Tana. “She would spend three hours a day here playing the piano and singing. It’s very hard to get used to not hearing that, but thank God for iTunes. It’s definitely quiet. I’m glad my son is still here.”

Tana shared that Jonathan, a member of the band Exiting the Fall, is currently helping to record the group’s latest album.

“Jon and Angie have been best friends for years; they talk all the time,” said Tana, adding that Angie’s brother is a musically gifted person in his own right, and often acts as Angie’s musical counselor in passing along good advice to her.

“Plus, there’s her daddy,” Tana said, with a smile. “She loves to get input from him.”

Tana also shared that she has been keeping a collection of articles and other items devoted to covering her daughter’s singing accomplishments on “American Idol.”

“I’m not sure what to do with them,” said Tana. “Frame them, make a scrapbook?”

Tana explained that throughout the competition, she and her husband, Guy, have spent a lot of time flying back and forth from Beverly to Los Angeles.

“We’ve been taking turns going back and forth out there,” Tana explained. “We serve as co-pastors of Remix Church in Salem, and the church needs to be set up and torn down every week.”

Tana said that the church’s services are held weekly in Salem’s Bentley Elementary School.

“Hopefully for the last few weeks of the competition, Guy, myself and Jonathan will all be able to go out to Los Angeles together,” said Tana, explaining that the past few months have been “a wild ride,” but that the family’s happiness for Angie has made it all worthwhile.

“The reality of it all hasn’t hit us yet,” Tana said. “We all know that things will be different from this point on, because her future opportunities won’t be here in Beverly, Massachusetts. They will likely be away from here.”

Tana said that life for the Miller family going forward will be different than what it has been in the past, but they have faith in their daughter’s aspirations.

“She knows her calling. She wants to sing,” said Tana.

A natural performer

Angie’s father, Guy, said that her desire to sing grew through watching her musical family perform from the time she was very young.

“She saw her mom, dad and brother up on stage playing instruments,” said Guy. “Through school and church, she grew into it naturally.”

Guy said that Angie’s interest in performing gradually increased through performing in musicals as she got older, as she received positive feedback. Her father added that those positive experiences only increased Angie’s desire.

“I think what sets her apart from a lot of guys and girls her age is her confidence,” said Guy.

On Angie trying out for “American Idol,” Guy said that he was not an avid viewer of the television show and had no idea that it was something his daughter wanted to pursue.

“I was outside the whole ‘Idol’ loop,” said Guy, adding that his wife, Tana, knew what entering the “American Idol” audition process would mean for both Angie and their family, but that he didn’t grasp all that was involved at first.

“In talking with Tana and Angie, I could see then that it could be a great opportunity,” Guy explained.

With regards to the amount of success that Angie has enjoyed since the competition began, Guy said that his response to it comes in two ways.

On one hand, Guy said that he was not surprised at the level of Angie’s talent, since she’s just doing now what she did every day in the family home growing up — only now singing to a worldwide audience, along with the accompaniment of professional musicians and choreographers.

“She’s always had the chops,” Guy said of his daughter’s performing skills.

On a separate level, Guy added that given the stage and scope of everything that’s been happening in her life over the last few months, he’s seen his daughter grow as a person.

“It’s how well she’s taking everything in stride,” said Guy. “How she handles the cameras, feedback from the judges. That’s the biggest thing I’ve noticed. Pressure can bring out the best or worst in someone, and it’s brought out the best in her.”

Guy said that he is proud of his daughter and wishes her the best going forward with her performing. He also spoke of how his Angie’s faith has traveled with her in this new chapter of her life.

“I’m just hoping that Angie can let the world know that followers of Christ can be natural and normal,” Guy stated. “She’s bringing faith into an arena that’s hard to bring it into. It means a lot to me to see the example that’s she set.”

Guy also had kind words for the city of Beverly, and how they’ve taken to supporting Angie.

“It’s really getting to be overwhelming, in a good sense of the word,” said Guy. “The fact that they’ve gotten behind her just based on what they’ve seen on TV is really something. It’s just been very fun and exciting. We’re enjoying the ride, and are glad that Beverly has gone along with us.”